What Type of Applicant Am I?

When you look at the Admission Requirements for any of our programs, you'll see an outline of the previous education you need to be eligible to apply to that program. Depending on the program you're looking at, it may also say 'or Mature student status or College or university transfer status'. A lot of people aren't sure which category applies to them, so we've put this section together to make it easier to understand.

If you're an international applicant, please to go international.humber.ca, where you'll find all the information you need to start your journey to Humber.

When you apply at ontariocolleges.ca, they'll ask you a series of questions to determine which applicant category you should be in, so don't worry if you're still not sure after you read this. We figure it out for you when you apply.

Secondary School Applicant

Have you graduated from high school or are you currently in high school and will graduate before you start your program at Humber?

If you're a high school graduate and you've never done any postsecondary education, you're considered a Secondary School Applicant. This includes current high school students who will have graduated before they start at Humber. It doesn't matter how old you are or how long ago you went to school.

Your eligibility for any programs you apply to at Humber will be determined using your high school grades. If you think your high school grades may not be high enough, or you don't have some of the requirements to get you into the programs you're interested in, don't worry. Humber has a number of one year certificate programs designed to help bridge students into programs they aren't currently eligible for.

Mature Student

Are you over 19 years of age and haven't graduated from high school?

If you haven't graduated from high school and you'll be 19 or older as of the first day of classes (21 or older for degree programs), you're considered a Mature Student. Many people assume they're Mature Students because they're over 18 years of age, but your status is determined by your previous education, not your age.

If you're a Mature Student applying to a certificate or diploma program, we'll invite you in for testing to determine if you're eligible to go into your program of choice. If it turns out that you're not currently eligible, we'll advise you on possible upgrading pathways.

If you're a Mature Student and you want to pursue a degree at Humber, you can either complete the required high school courses listed under Admission Requirements or you can apply to a related Humber diploma. To learn more about diploma to degree transfers at Humber, please see humber.ca/transferoptions.

Transfer Student

Have you ever attended college or university?

If you've attended college or university you're considered a Transfer Student.

If you've completed a diploma or a degree, there may be additional programs that you're eligible to apply to depending on the credential you already have.

Your eligibility for any programs you apply to at Humber will be determined using your college or university grades. Depending on the program you're applying to, we may also look at your high school grades. If that's the case you'll see it noted in the Transfer Students section of the Admission Requirements.

Depending on how long ago you were in school and which program you're coming into, you may be eligible for Transfer Credit.

No matter where you're coming from, the important thing to remember is that we're here to help you get where you want to go. Sometimes that means going straight into the program you want, other times it means that your pathway will involve a number of steps to get from where you are to where you want to be. We can help you understand your options and find the best pathway to your career goals.

How Do I Find A Program?

Our program search allows you to look for programs in two ways. If you know the name of the program you're looking for, you can type that into the search box. If you know what you're interested in, but you don’t know which programs would give you the opportunity to learn about it, that's OK. Just search for the stuff you're interested in and we’ll show you which of our programs are connected to your interests. You can also narrow your search by the types of credentials described in the previous section.

Click on any of the program links to find out more about that program. The program pages have answers for many questions you may have. You can see how long the program is, how much it will cost, and whether the program is still accepting applications. There are sections with details about the program and your career options after you graduate. There is also a section with descriptions for every course in the program. If you still have questions after you’ve read the program page, there is contact information for the Program Coordinator at the top of the page under the Contact Us tab.

For many people, the hardest part of this process is figuring out which program to take. The Humber Career Finder is a great tool for connecting your interests with Humber’s programs. You’ll be asked a series of questions about what you like and don’t like to do and then the Career Finder will give you a list of Humber programs, organized by area of interest, that match your interests.

Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a two or three programs you’re interested in, you can book a pre-enrolment advising appointment to speak with a Recruitment Advisor who can answer your questions about the admissions process and help you get in touch with Program Coordinators, Admissions Officers and anyone else at Humber you need to speak to in order to make an informed decision.

What's With 8 Academic Schools?

Humber is a college which is divided up into eight academic areas we call schools. An academic school is a group of related programs, but more importantly it's a community of people with similar interests and goals. One of the biggest advantages of being a student at Humber is the opportunity to connect with students working toward careers in areas related to your own, because those students will become part of your professional network when you graduate. When you start your career, you’ll find that a big school makes for a small world.

Visit the academic schools page to see an overview of the schools and what they offer.

Academic schools also have Centres of Excellence that help students deepen their learning through experiential learning and applied research. You can find out more by checking out the Centres of Excellence page.

What If I Need Help?

Education doesn’t just happen in the classroom. At Humber you have opportunities to take skill-building workshops, engage in extra-curricular activities and do on-campus jobs that add to the skills you acquire in the classroom and in the lab. The leadership, organizational, communication, and other skills you learn through those experiences are just as important as your technical skills.

Getting an education is ultimately about learning how to do things you don't currently know how to do. That's a very fun and rewarding experience, but it's also challenging at times. The challenging experiences are ultimately the most important because it's by working through those challenges that you close the gap between your current abilities and your true potential. The question is not whether you will hit bumps in the road, but rather where to get the support you need when you do. When you hit a bump in the road, don't worry, we got you. Whether you have questions about Residence, Accessible Learning Services, Academic Advising, Career Services or anything else, go to wegotyou.humber.ca to get the support you need to succeed.

One more thing about success at Humber - it starts before you attend your first class. Research shows that students who go to Orientation are more likely to succeed than students who don’t, so go to Orientation and get on the right track right from the start.

What If I Don't Get Into My Program?

Many people have the impression that applying to postsecondary education works like a gate - you either get in or you don't - but that's not how we do things at Humber. At Humber we look at your education like a ladder. If you can't get directly into the program you want to take, we'll work with you to find a pathway that leads from where you are to where you want to be.

Depending on your previous education and your long-term goals, your pathway through Humber may involve one credential or you may connect a number of credentials together. There is no one right pathway. The only thing that matters is finding your ideal pathway, and we’re here to help.